Use of DNA sequences for male sterility in transgenic plants

Abstract

The use of DNA sequences comprising a glucanase coding region operably linked to a promoter, or other regulatory sequence, which provides for expression of the DNA sequence with appropriate tissue and/or temporal specificity, in the preparation of a male sterile transgenic tomato plant is disclosed. In preferred embodiments the promoter is a tapetum specific promoter, eg an A3 or an A9 promoter. DNA sequences comprising the PR-Glucanase coding region and an A3 or an A9 promoter, preferably an A9 promoter are also described, as are transgenic tomato plants, plant cells, propagating material, seeds, antisense DNA sequences and ribozyme encoding DNA sequences for restoration of male-fertility.

1. A transgenic tomato plant cell comprising a heterologous DNA molecule encoding a beta (1,3) PR-Glucanase enzyme operably linked to a promoter, or other regulatory sequence, which provides for expression of the DNA molecule in the tapetum and/or microsporogenous cells prior to expression of callase. 
   
   
     2. The transgenic tomato plant cell of  claim 1 , wherein the promoter is a tapetum specific promoter. 
   
   
     3. The transgenic tomato plant cell of  claim 2 , wherein the tapetum specific promoter is an A3 or A9 promoter. 
   
   
     4. The transgenic tomato plant cell of  claim 3 , wherein the tapetum specific promoter is an A9 promoter. 
   
   
     5. The transgenic tomato plant cell of  claim 3 , wherein the A3 or A9 promoter is the complete promoter. 
   
   
     6. The transgenic tomato plant cell of  claim 3 , wherein the A3 or A9 promoter is derived from  Brassicaceae.    
   
   
     7. The transgenic tomato plant cell of  claim 1 , wherein the promoter, or other regulatory sequence, comprises one or more temporal and/or tissue control sequences of a tapetum specific promoter. 
   
   
     8. The transgenic tomato plant cell of  claim 7 , wherein the temporal and/or tissue control sequences are of an A3 or A9 promoter. 
   
   
     9. The transgenic tomato plant cell of  claim 1 , wherein the DNA molecule coding for PR-Glucanase comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO.1. 
   
   
     10. The transgenic tomato plant cell of  claim 1 , wherein the DNA molecule is a part of a vector. 
   
   
     11. A transgenic male sterile tomato plant comprising the tomato plant cell of any one of  claims 1 ,  2 - 8 ,  9  or  10 . 
   
   
     12. Propagating material derived from the transgenic male sterile tomato plant of  claim 11 , wherein the propagating material comprises the heterologous DNA molecule. 
   
   
     13. A seed from the transgenic male sterile tomato plant of  claim 11 , wherein the seed comprises the heterologous DNA molecule. 
   
   
     14. A process for producing the transgenic male sterile tomato plant of  claim 11 , comprising introducing into tomato plant cells the DNA molecule, so as to thereby produce the transgenic male sterile tomato plant.